Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Schools Division of Dumaguete City
Junob National High School
Talay, Dumaguete City

Applied Subject: Statistics and Probability

Quarter 3- Week 3
Lesson 4: Mean and Variance of Discrete Random Variable

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, learners are expected to:
1. illustrate mean and variance of a discrete random variable; and
2. calculate mean and variance of a discrete random variable.

Mean is a measure of central tendency than balances the

distribution. It is also known as average. From your Junior High
Lesson in Math, you have learned that mean or average is equal to
the sum of the numbers/scores divided by the total number of
scores.

Mean of a Discrete Random Variable

Is the sum of the products of the values of the discrete random
variable and their corresponding probabilities. It is also called the
Expected Value of an event.
In symbols:

𝝁 = 𝑿𝟏 • 𝑷(𝑿𝟏) + 𝑿𝟐 • 𝑷(𝑿𝟐) + 𝑿𝟑 • 𝑷(𝑿𝟑) + ⋯ + 𝑿𝒏 • 𝑷(𝑿𝒏)

𝝁 = ∑ [(𝑿) • 𝑷(𝑿) ]
where:
𝝁 – is mean or expected value
𝑿𝟏, 𝑿𝟐, 𝑿𝟑,…, 𝑿𝒏 – are values of the random variable
𝑷(𝑿𝟏), 𝑷(𝑿𝟐), 𝑷(𝑿𝟑), … , 𝑷(𝑿𝒏) – are the corresponding probabilities

Example 1
Three persons underwent a swab for COVID-19 test. Construct the
probability
distribution of the discrete random variable, number of positive
results, then find the mean, variance and standard deviation. Let Z
represents the random variable number of positive results.

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To find the mean of a discrete random variable:
Step 1. Construct the probability distribution of the given discrete
random variable.
Z-Number of Positive Probability of Z
Results P(Z)
0 1/8
1 3/8
2 3/8
3 1/8

Step 2. Multiply the value of the random variable to its

corresponding probability.

Z-Number of Probability of
Positive Z Z • P(Z)
0 1/8 0
1 3/8 3/8
2 3/8 6/8
3 1/8 3/8

Step 3. Find the summation of the products of the values of the

random variable and the probabilities.

Z-Number of Probability of Z • P(Z)

Positive Z
0 1/8 0
1 3/8 3/8
2 3/8 6/8
3 1/8 3/8
12
∑[𝑍 • 𝑃(𝑍)] = = 𝟏. 𝟓
8

The mean number of positive results from the three people who
underwent a COVID-19 test is 1.5.

Variance and Standard Deviation of a Discrete Random

Variable

Variance and Standard Deviation are measures of dispersion

that tell us how spread the scores are from the mean and from each
other. Variance is the average squared deviation from the mean
while Standard Deviation is the average deviation from the mean.
A small variance and standard deviation indicate that the scores are
close to the mean and from each other, while a large value tells us
how spread the scores are from the mean. A variance and standard
deviation of 0 means that all the scores in the data set are equal.

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Variance of a discrete random variable is the difference
between the summation of the products of the squared value of the
random variable and its corresponding probability and the square of
the mean. In symbols;

𝝈𝟐 = ∑[𝑿𝟐 • 𝑷(𝑿)] − 𝝁𝟐

where:
𝝈𝟐 – is the variance
X – is the value of the discrete random variable
P(X) - is the probability of the discrete random variable
𝝁 − is the mean

Standard Deviation of a discrete random variable is the

square root of the difference between the summation of the products
of the squared value of the random variable and its corresponding
probability and the square of the mean. In symbols,

𝝈 = √∑[𝑿𝟐 • 𝑷(𝑿)] − 𝝁𝟐

where: 𝝈 −is the standard deviation

X – is the value of the discrete random variable

P(X) - is the probability of the discrete random variable
𝝁 − is the mean

To find the variance and standard deviation:

Step 1. Find the mean.

Z-Number of Probability Z•P(Z)

Positive of Z
0 1/8 0
1 3/8 3/8
2 3/8 6/8
3 1/8 3/8
12
∑[𝑍 • 𝑃(𝑍)] = = 𝟏. 𝟓
8
Step 2. Square each value of the random variable.
Z-Number of Probability Z • P(Z) Z2
Positive of Z
0 1/8 0 0
1 3/8 3/8 1
2 3/8 6/8 4
3 1/8 3/8 9

3
 = 𝟏. 5
12
∑ [𝒁 • 𝑷(𝒁)] =
8

Step 3. Get the product of the squared

value of the random variable and its
corresponding probability then get the
sum of the products.

Z-Number of Probability Z • P(Z) Z2 Z2 • P(Z)

Positive of Z
0 1/8 0 0 0
1 3/8 3/8 1 3/8
2 3/8 6/8 4 12/8
3 1/8 3/8 9 9/8
12 24
∑ [𝑍 • 𝑃(𝑍)] = = 𝟏. 𝟓 ∑ [𝑍 • 𝑃(𝑍)] =
2 =𝟑
8 8

Step 4. Apply the formula in finding the variance:

𝝈𝟐 = ∑ [𝒁𝟐 • 𝑷(𝒁)] − 𝝁𝟐
𝝈𝟐 = 3 − (1.5)2
𝝈𝟐 = 3 − 2.25
𝝈𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓

Step 5. Find the standard deviation by

getting the square root of the variance.
𝝈 = √∑ [𝒁𝟐 • 𝑷(𝒁)] − 𝝁𝟐
𝝈 = √0.75
𝝈 = 0.866
𝝈 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟕
The variance is 0.75
and the standard
deviation is 0.87.

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Example 2
A Grab driver wants to know his expected income in the past 10 days. He
opened his driver application and check the history of his completed jobs
and income for the past 10 days. The table below is the list of his income in
the past 10 days. Construct the probability distribution of the driver’s
income in the past 10 days (X) then find his expected income. Find also the
variance and standard deviation.

Number of Days Income

Day 1 2800
Day 2 3000
Day 3 3560
Day 4 2790
Day 4 2500
Day 6 3700
Day 7 3700
Day 8 3480
Day 9 2500
Day 10 3000

To find the mean of a discrete random variable:

Step 1: Construct the probability distribution of the given discrete
random variable.

X - income P(X) X * P(X)

3700 2/10 7400/10
3560 1/10 3560/10
3480 1/10 3480/10
3000 2/10 6000/10
2800 1/10 2800/10
2790 1/10 2790/10
2500 2/10 5000/10
31030
∑ [𝑋 • 𝑃(𝑋)] = = 3103
10

Step 2. Square each value of the random variable.

X - income P(X) X * P(X) X2

3700 2/10 7400/10 13690000
3560 1/10 3560/10 12673600
3480 1/10 3480/10 12110400
3000 2/10 6000/10 9000000
2800 1/10 2800/10 7840000
2790 1/10 2790/10 7784100
2500 2/10 5000/10 6250000
𝟑𝟏𝟎𝟑𝟎
∑ [𝑿 • 𝑷(𝑿)] = = 𝟑𝟏𝟎𝟑
𝟏𝟎

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 Step 3. Get the product of the squared value of the random variable
and its corresponding probability then get the sum of the products.

X - income P(X) X • P(X) X2 X2 • P(X)

3700 2/10 7400/10 13690000 27380000/10
3560 1/10 3560/10 12673600 12673600/10
3480 1/10 3480/10 12117360 12110400/10
3000 2/10 6000/10 9000000 18000000/10
2800 1/10 2800/10 7840000 7840000/10
2790 1/10 2790/10 7784100 7784100/10
2500 2/10 5000/10 6250000 12500000/10

3𝟏𝟎𝟑𝟎 98288100
∑[𝑿 • 𝑷(𝑿)] = = 𝟑𝟏𝟎𝟑 ∑ [𝑋2 • 𝑃(𝑋)] = = 𝟗𝟖𝟐𝟖𝟖𝟏𝟎
𝟏𝟎 10

Step 4. Apply the formula in finding the variance:

𝝈𝟐 = ∑ [𝑿𝟐 • 𝑷(𝑿)] − 𝝁𝟐
𝝈𝟐 = 9828810 − (3103)2

𝝈𝟐 = 9828810 − 9628609
𝝈𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟎𝟏

Step 5. Find the standard deviation by getting the square root of the
variance.
𝝈 = √∑ [𝑿𝟐 • 𝑷(𝑿)] − 𝝁𝟐
𝝈 = √200201
𝝈 = 447.438
𝝈 = 𝟒𝟒𝟕. 𝟒𝟒

The variance is 200201 and the standard deviation is Php 447.44.

"Mistakes are proof that you are trying.”

--Anonymous--

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Name:_________________________________________ Date:______________
Grade level and Section:_______________________ Score:____________

ACTIVITY 1

Directions: Complete the given table then find a. Mean, b. Variance and
c. Standard Deviation of the given discrete random variable.

1. X is the number of orders placed on an online store in a day for

the past 12 days.

X P(X) X • P(X) X2 X2 •P(X)

1 1/12
2 5/12
3 3/12
4 1/12
5 2/12

2. Y is the number of phone calls received by an agent in an

hour for 8 hours.

Y P(Y) Y • P(Y) Y2 Y2 • P(Y)

12 1/8
15 1/8
17 1/8
20 2/8
23 1/8
24 2/8

ACTIVITY 2
Directions: Construct the probability distribution of the given
discrete random variable then find: a. Mean, b. Variance and c.
Standard Deviation of the discrete random variable.
One word is randomly selected from the following sentence: The
grass needs cutting and should be cut by tomorrow afternoon. Let X
represents the number of letters in the randomly selected word.

X – Number of
Letters P(X) X • P(X) X2 X2 • P(X)

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ACTIVITY 3
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Encircle the letter of your
answer.

1. It is equal to the summation of the products of the value of the

random variable and the corresponding probability.
a. Mean b. Median c. Standard Deviation d. Variance

2. What is the value of the variance when all data in the set
are equal? a. -1 b. 0 c. 1 d. 100%

3. A measure that tells us how spread the scores are from the mean
and from each other, it is the average squared deviation.
a. Variance b. Standard Deviation c. Median d. Mean

4. Find the variance of the given discrete random variable.

Y 0 1 2 3
P(Y) 1/8 3/8 3/8 1/8

a. 0.75 b. 3/8 c. 1 d. 6

5. It is the symbols used to denote variance?

a. 𝜇 b. 𝜎 c. 𝜃2 d. 𝜎2

ACTIVITY 4
Directions: Answer the given problem. Write your complete solutions.

In the 2019 midterm election, a pollster was assigned to interview the

oldest male and female in various households. Each was asked whether
he or she voted for Vico Sotto. If the male said “Yes” and the female said
“No,” the pollster recorded YN. Construct the probability distribution of
the number of YES answers then find the mean, variance and standard
deviation.

X – Number of P(X) X * P(X) X2 X2 * P(X)

YES

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 SLM

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Quarter 1

Mean and Variance of

Discrete Random Variable

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The Grab Driver’s expected income in the past 10 days is Php 3103.

To find the variance and standard deviation:

Step 1. Find the mean.

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X – Number of P(X) X * P(X) X2 X2 * P(X)
YES

KEY TO CORRECTION

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X – Number of
YES P(X) X • P(X) X2 X2 • P(X)
0 1/4 0 0 0

1 2/4 2/4 1 2/4

2 1/4 2/4 4 4/4

𝟒 𝟔
∑ [𝑿 • 𝑷(𝑿)] = = 𝟏 ∑ [𝑿𝟐 • 𝑷(𝑿)] = = 𝟏. 𝟓
𝟒 𝟒

𝝁 = 𝟏(mean) 𝝈𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟓 (variance) 𝝈 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟏 (standard deviation)

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